Process to apply identification inscriptions on sleeves made of elastomeric material in the manufacture of driving belts

Abstract

A sleeve (4) is fitted on a supporting table (3) to be positioned in front of a storage device (42) which carries a plurality of rolls (27) of first ribbon-like manufactured articles (25) contained in respective boxes (43). Each box has a transferable film (30) bearing identification inscriptions thereon, applied to a paper substrate (29). One of said manufactured articles (25) is unfolded and longitudinally extended on the sleeve (4) by a first grasping member (55) in order to be then cut by a cutting member (68) acting close to the box. A heated presser roller (32) longitudinally movable on the ribbon-like-manufactured article (25) causes the transferring of the film (30) to the sleeve (4). Simultaneously, the application of the film (30) belonging to a second ribbon-like manufactured article (26) is carried out, said second manufactured article (26) being supported by a main carriage (33) carrying the presser roller (32) and engaging with a positioning roller ( 73) unfolding the manufactured article on the sleeve (4) before the presser roller (32).

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for applying identification inscriptions to sleeves made of elastomeric material for the production of driving belts, comprising the following steps: fitting a sleeve on a supporting board;   longitudinally disposing on the sleeve a ribbon manufactured article having a paper substrate to which a transferable film carrying said identifying inscriptions is applied, said transferable film being oriented towards an outer surface of the sleeve to which the inscription is to be applied;   pressing and heating the ribbon manufactured article onto the sleeve so as to cause the transferring of the transferable film to an outer surface of a sleeve and simultaneously detaching of the paper substrate from said film, wherein said process includes: a) disposing the ribbon manufactured article in a coil;   b) giving the manufactured article a configuration when operatively positioned for use comprising at least: a first rectilinear portion outgoing from the coiled position towards a front area;     a curvilinear portion from the front area towards a direction opposite the first portion; second rectilinear portions defining with said first position a space inside which a heating roller is disposed in spaced relationship from the manufactured article;     c) causing passage of the outgoing manufactured article from the second portion to a position in which opposite locking forces are applied to opposed portions of the manufactured article during an application step in order to recover a paper substrate corresponding to the film laid on the sleeve;   d) moving the curvilinear portion of said configuration to the beginning of the sleeve and lowering said heating roller onto the manufactured article;   e) applying locking forces to said positions for locking the manufactured article and moving said configuration and the roller along the sleeve and over the manufactured article so that the film of the manufactured article is transferred to the sleeve over the whole length thereof;   f) raising the heating roller from the manufactured article and simultaneously applying tractive forces to the manufactured article in said configuration in the opposite direction to the direction used for applying said film in order to recover the paper substrate corresponding to the film applied to the sleeve.     
     
     
       2. A process for applying identification inscriptions to sleeves made of elastomeric material for the production of driving belts, comprising the following steps: fitting a sleeve on a supporting board;   longitudinally disposing on the sleeve a ribbon manufactured article having a paper substrate to which a transferable film carrying said identifying inscriptions is applied, said transferable film being oriented towards an outer surface of the sleeve to which the inscription is to be applied, said longitudinal disposing including: a) disposing the ribbon manufactured article in a coil and causing an outgoing portion of a predetermined length of said manufactured article to exit towards an outside of said coil;   b) grasping the outgoing portion and pulling out the manufactured article by an amount equal to the length to be applied to a sleeve;   c) cutting the manufactured article at a second end thereof while keeping a tractive action between the coiled manufactured article and a point between a cutting line and a first pulled out end of the manufactured article;   d) aligning the manufactured article between two ends of the sleeve while keeping the manufactured article under said tractive action;   e) keeping the first end free as it is brought into contact with the sleeve;     pressing and heating the ribbon manufactured article onto the sleeve so as to cause the transferring of the transferable film to an outer surface of a sleeve and simultaneously detaching of the paper substrate from said film, said pressing and heating including (a) pressing and heating the manufactured article and then releasing the tractive action applied to the second end in the final transferred portion of the film to the sleeve.     
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 including carrying out said pressing and heating steps by submitting the ribbon manufactured article to action of a presser roller heated to a surface temperature in the range of 230° to 270° C.; moving said presser roller over said article at a speed between 1.5 m/min and 4 m/min and exerting a pressure of 3 to 7 bar thereon.   
     
     
       4. A process for applying identification inscriptions to sleeves made of elastomeric material for the production of driving belts, comprising the following steps: fitting a sleeve on a supporting board;   positioning a magnetic card, associated with said sleeve, so as to be read by a reading member, said reading member communicating with an electronic control unit for causing selective positioning of a storage device, said storage device comprising a plurality of container boxes aligned to form a plurality of horizontal rows mutually superimposed and spaced apart from each other, each of said container boxes being aligned with the sleeve and accommodating a ribbon manufactured article wound in a roll which has an unwinding portion projecting towards the sleeve through an opening formed in the container box, wherein said electronic control unit causes the selective positioning of one of said container boxes before the sleeve, based on data detected by reading from said magnetic card;   fitting a sleeve on a supporting board;   longitudinally disposing on the sleeve a ribbon manufactured article having a paper substrate to which a transferable film carrying said identifying inscriptions is applied, said transferable film being oriented towards an outer surface of the sleeve to which the inscription is to be applied;   pressing and heating the ribbon manufactured article onto the sleeve so as to cause the transferring of the transferable film to an outer surface of a sleeve and simultaneously detaching of the paper substrate from said film.   
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 including carrying out said pressing and heating steps by submitting the ribbon manufactured article to action of a presser roller heated to a surface temperature in the range of 230° to 270° C.; moving said presser roller over said article at a speed between 1.5 m/min and 4 m/min and exerting a pressure of 3 to 7 bar thereon.   
     
     
       6. The process according to claim 4, wherein said pressing and heating step is performed by moving a heated presser roller along a length of said sleeve.